<p>I'm stuck. Although it's a good kind of stuck, I am stuck nevertheless. I was accepted into all three of these schools. Not a regent scholar at the UC's or anything special at CMC; however, I was offered great financial aid at all three schools, making financial aid a non-issue. I know that UCLA + UC Berkeley are polar opposites to Claremont McKenna.
This is my current mindset (leaning towards CMC)
As a prospective business/economics major, the Haas business school at Berkeley would be great; however, I am hesitant as I have to apply as a sophomore.
CMC is looking great - the internship opportunities, intimacy of the community, the consortium, strength of economics/accounting/finance programs etc.
I guess the main reason I'm not fully devoted to CMC is the fact that both UCLA and CAL have a more prestigious name for businesses and companies than CMC. I know that CMC is well known, especially in the West, but it falls short compared to the mentioned UC's. Any advice, recommendation, experiences, or anything that could help me out in making the right choice would be greatly appreciated. Anything ranging from strength of individual school to fit to anything relevant works. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m on exactly the same boat, except I also have Olin at WUSTL for Econ and Strategy, and UNC Chapel Hill (no assured Kenan-Flagler, though). This is hard!</p>
<p>I began asking myself the same questions when I was accepted ED. I did tons of research into the type of recruiters that step onto CMC’s campus and how it fares against other big-name California schools. This is what I learned:</p>
<p>You can cross UCLA off of your list as UCB is clearly > UCLA for business.</p>
<p>UC Berkeley is great for those looking into IB/consulting. The recruiting you’ll get at Haas will be awesome. However, you need to seriously consider the type of environment that the students will promote. You’ll be placed in large lecture halls as part of a cutthroat atmosphere that will drive you and your peers crazy. Internships won’t be nearly as easy to come by and you really aren’t going to get the intimate attention that a liberal arts institution so desperately values.</p>
<p>When it comes to recruiting at CMC, the opportunities will be there. BBs are attracted to CMC because of its proximity to the four other stellar undergraduate institutions within close proximity. Recruiters know that they will also be able to pull students from the other powerhouses such as Pomona and Mudd. Employers will be impressed with the quality of your education. You can’t really beat a liberal arts curriculum.</p>
<p>Aside from recruiting, you’re also going to get those close professor-student relationships. The career services department is phenomenal and CMC is constantly recognized as the happiest undergraduate institution in the country. To say it simply, Claremont McKenna is going to offer you with the best college experience of the three.</p>
<p>CMC has a strong alumni network. It’s no secret that graduates want to see this small, fairly new institution succeed among its competitors. Again, this is just one of the many benefits of attending a small college. </p>
<p>You have great choices in front of you. At this point it’s wherever you feel you’ll have the best experience. As long as you work hard at any of the three, you will be successful.</p>
<p>If money were no object to me I would definitely choose CMC over Berkeley (unfortunately it isn’t). The idea of competing for classes and admission into Haas is not at all appealing to me. Neither is sitting in a 500 person lecture. </p>
<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>As a current student and in a similar track, I feel like I can quite comfortably say that CMC has a reputation at top consulting firms and banks in Los Angeles that should alleviate any worries you might have. As a sophomore, I’m on a first name basis with the recruiters at BB and M and they have invited groups of CMC students to visit their offices. CMC will do you as well name wise at these sorts of firms as any other school in the country.</p>
<p>CMC by a long shot! My kids attended a very selective college prep hs in so. cal. and CMC is a very respected destination for graduates from our school. You won’t get the attention at Berkeley or UCLA and seriously - who cares about their ranking?!?!? Their ranking will not have any impact on your personal experience, except possibly to make it worse. </p>
<p>Go where you can be a big fish in a little pond. That’s where you will succeed. </p>
<p>Wow. This post has gotten more pro-CMC posts than the other ones I’ve seen on cc. Thank you for the responses. I plan on visiting tomorrow as I have yet to see the campus yet. If I could envision myself there, which I expect I can, CMC is looking like the one!
P.S - I didn’t care much about rankings honestly. I was simply worried about job placements post graduation. I was told on multiple occasions that UCLA and Cal carry a more reputable name than CMC for companies etc. It, however, is probably a non-issue and I have worried about it a tad too much. Thanks again for the helpful feedback!</p>
<p>We are in the same boat: S accepted Cal (Regents), UCLA and CMC. Hearing, like you are, that Cal and UCLA are more prestigious and we should head to either of these and that CMC is too regional. Your comments are super helpful,everyone! Glad to hear there are jobs afterwards! </p>
<p>How much would it help younger brother to get in to CMC if older brother were there? (No doubt CMC is a better fit for younger S over a massive university.)</p>
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<p>Prestige remains hopelessly in the eye of the beholder. Prestige is often associated with recognition by the Nascar or NCAAA fans. Most people know schools by following them on a Saturday afternoon. Accordingly which school is most recognized between Pomona and ASU or … Oregon? Joe Six Pack will know the differences between a F-150 and a RAM, but will he know much about the prestige of a Range Rover? </p>
<p>Name recognition is often contradictory to its … regional recognition. UCLA and Cal might have more international or national attention, but its main draw remains just as regional as almost every other schools on the West Coast. </p>
<p>Needless to say that, in the end, the prestige factor is mostly BS. People who will be in a position to “appraise” your education later in life and actually make “some” difference will know what each school stands for. They will know, for instance, how large the contingent of JUCO transfers who graduate from Cal is and realize the variable selectivity of the schools. </p>
<p>What matters is how to schools fit the expectations of education and quality of life during the four years – or perhaps five to six at the UC schools. </p>
<p>Lastly, sibling admissions is a factor that might come into play, but probably nothing to worry about. </p>
<p>The grad schools at UCLA and Cal remain very good and most are highly ranked. The undergraduate situation is very different now that both Cal and UCLA have drastically lowered the admission standard for a large percentage of the class. CMC is dramatically more uniform though due to their large size the UC’s will still have plenty of bright students in the rigorous majors. But these schools are polar opposites so it’s really up to what you want. Today for people in the know CMC will be more prestigious because it’s much more selective than the UC’s but the average person will look confused when they hear the name CMC. </p>
<p>After much thought and consideration, I decided to commit to CMC and submitted my deposit just now. After talking to my counselors, teachers, deans, and a few other people whose advice I take very seriously, I came to the conclusion that CMC was clearly the right choice. </p>
<p>Yes, my parents had no clue what the Claremont Colleges were and my grandparents threw a fit when they heard I turned down a full ride to Cal. As a first generation Asian-American, I would have been the first to attend a school of such caliber from my family. After my admit day at CMC, however, I was sold. The people I met were extremely friendly and everyone there was unique in their own way. Within the first few hours, I was already feeling comfortable within the CMC community. </p>
<p>I also considered the schools in terms of academia and educational experience. CMC has the perfect mix of a small LAC and a research university (Consortium etc etc). While I would be receiving a more well rounded liberal arts education, which is looking more and more attractive to graduate schools/employers, I also have that focus on Econ/IR at CMC. I am blessed to have the opportunity to know most of the students at CMC and with students all across the 5 C’s all the while benefiting from the attention of a small private LAC which is something I couldn’t be able to say for a UC. </p>
<p>While Cal and UCLA is great, everything that CMC offers makes it a worthwhile investment. While the Claremont Colleges as a whole are on the rise (Reputation, endowment, overall quality of education), I’m not sure I can say the same for the UC’s. </p>
<p>The undergraduate experience at CMC is one of the best and I look forward to spending the next 4 years of my life there!</p>
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<p>That is the precise downfall on paying undue attention to prestige and recognition issues. The bad news is … Yes, Joe Six Pack and his Nascar loving Hillbilly cousins will never have heard of CMC or of Claremont for that matter. Yet, the good news is that people who will later influence your career, professional or academic will understand the differences. Obviously, there WILL be people who think that Cal or UCLA are far more prestigious, but that is a rather universal issue. But, the people who are paid to evaluate your academic career and do their job correctly will also understand the validity of choosing a LAC over a large research university at the UG level. </p>
<p>A LAC such as CMC is not for everyone, but is a treasure for the students who liked it enough to apply and were liked enough by the adcoms to be admitted, and loved enough by their parents to be able to enroll. </p>
<p>By the way, SAT2400GG, congratulations on having earned so many great choices, and for deciding with wide open eyes. I am convinced you will enjoy your decision. </p>
<p>You made the absolute right choice. Your summary is on target, and you are right that CMC, et al are on the rise, and the UC system, while still well known, is on decline in the undergrad area. </p>
<p>You definitely made the right choice. I graduated from CMC in '92. It was a great school and I’m so glad I went there. The alumni network is outstanding as well.</p>